be arranged, as far as possible, so as to comprise subjects which do not require special cramming, but are taught generally in our public schools, omitting Some, such as Greek, of which no further use or notice would be made in their future career, and substituting French, or another modern language in lieu. The college would then open for the cadets on the 1st of February, and and while indoor studies of navigation, nautical astronomy and modern languages occupied the mornings, the afternoons should be devoted to practical seamanship until the first of May, when they should embark in a corvette, especially set apart for their instruction, until August. During these four months they should perform every practical duty of their profession with their own hands, under instruction, with plenty of time, and with patient, steady instructors, and at the end of their cruise, after an inspection by the governor of the college, they should strip and clear their vessel before proceeding on a summer holiday. During the cruise they should not only learn to take and work their own observations for the position of the ship by the ordinary known methods, but should also study the pilotage of the coast of England, whenever visited. After the vacation they should again rig their vessel, and until the end of October should have instruction in rigging, masting, and so on, while the weather permitted, as well as continuing to exercise in boats. November and December being devoted to indoor studies and examination. This would complete the first year of training. The second year would begin as the first, with indoor studies in the morning, the advanced seamanship class of the afternoon, alternating with gunnery instruction classes until May, when the second class would embark in a steam corvette, and in addition to the study of seamanship, as in the first year, would join that of steam machinery. While the cruise of the first year would have been on board a sailing corvette, and on the south coast of England generally, that of the second year should have been extended to the coasts of the United Kingdom and western coast of Europe; and while the sailing corvette should be manned by steady old seamen, and no attempt should be made at quickness of manoeuvre, the steam corvette for the second year should be manned by active young trained able seamen, and all manoeuvres should be performed together, as in actual practice in man-of-war, the young cadets under training working a mast. At the end of this cruise, they would not only strip their vessel, but would also take to pieces the principal parts of the machinery, before the summer holidays and after inspection. On recommencement of term in October, indoor studies should again be taken up, and the final examination for the rank of midshipmen should take place in December, the average age of the young officers being now 17 years. I should now reassemble the midshipmen on February 1st, either on board the gunnery ships or in a special ship attached to the college, for a three months' course in practical gunnery, after being examined in which, they should be discharged into a full-rigged, full-manned frigate for final instruction in the duties of an officer, under selected captains, commanders, and lieutenants. They should here alternately take the duties of officers of tops, officers of boats, officers in charge of a particular mast, and in rotation as officers of the watch, under the care and guidance of a lieutenant of each watch, while lectures and exercise in manoeuvres of ships and boats, of heavy and field guns, of smallarm drills and landing parties, should be systematically taught them. At the end of this cruise, which should extend to the Mediterranean, an examination in seamanship should take place, and the midshipmen would be discharged into the service afloat, at an average age of 18 years, where they would serve as midshipmen for one year before examination (as now) for sub-lieutenants. Thus, the whole course of training would be two years at college, and in training corvettes as cadets, and one year's training in practical gunuery, and instruction as an officer in various duties, with the rank of midshipman, performing all the duties of a subordinate officer, at the conclusion of which an examination should take place in all the subjects of the profession, whether at home or abroad. This preliminary education should be followed by the modification of the navigating class, the creation of an examination for the rank of lieutenant, and other changes in rank. MILITARY EDUCATION IN FRANCE; Part I. of Military Schools and Courses of Instruction in the Science and Art of War in different coun- tries. By Henry Barnard, LL.D., late U. S. Commissioner of Education." MILITARY SCHOOLS OF SPECIAL APPLICATION IN FRANCE, I. ARTILLERY AND ENGINEERS' SCHOOL AT METZ,.... 1. History and General Description,...... First Artillery School in 1679 at Douai,. Academy at La Fère in 1756,... First Engineer School at Mézières in 1749,. 141 141 Third Part-Effects of Projectiles,...... Fourth Part-Trace and Construction of Batteries,.. Fifth Part-Section 1. Organization and Service of Artillery,..... IV. Course on Military Art and Field Fortification,....... 1. Historical Notices of the Organization of Armies,. 3. Castrametation,........ 4. Field Fortification,... 5. Military Communications,. 6. Strategy,....... II. Works of Application,... Recapitulations,... V. Permanent Fortifications and Attack and Defense of Places,. VI. Course of Topography,...... 1. Topographical Drawing,. 2. Topographical Surveying,. VII. Course of Geodesy and Dialling,.. 1. Special for Engineers,..... 2. Common to Engineers and Artillery,.... VIII. Course of Sciences applied to Military Arts,.. 1. Geology,...... 2. Working in Iron,.............. 3. Application of the Working of Iron,. 4. Manufacture of Small Arms, Works of Application, Samples of Minerals, Geological Exercises, Molding, Practical Instructions on Munitions and Fireworks,.. IX. Course of Applied Mechanics,... 1. General Principles,.. 2. Motion of Machines,. 3. Resistance of Materials,. 4. Working Machines,..... 5. Explanations and Works of Application,.. X. Course of Construction,.. 1. Elements of Masonry,..... 2. Architecture of Military Building........ 3. Resistance of Material,.. 4. Hydraulic Construction,. Works of Application,..... XI. Course in the German Language,. Preliminary Measures and Lectures,. Tracing of the Work,.... Memoir and Sketch,.. XIII. Course on the Veterinary Art,. Interior of the Horse,....................................... 200 200 200 201 201 201 201 201 202 203 205 205 205 205 206 207 268 VIII. THE MILITARY AND NAVAL SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY,.. 1. Military School of Medicine at Paris,.......... 273 273 973 273 273 274 974 274 274 ...... 274 Escalading,.. Carrying Weights,...... XI. REMARKS ON THE MILITARY EDUCATION OF FRANCE, 1. Officers must be regularly Trained, or have seen Service,. 2. Junior Military Schools,..... 3. Professional Education at St. Cyr,... 4. Staff School,...... 5. Officers of Artillery and Engineers,.. 6. Mathematical bias, 7. Bourses, 8. Practical Teaching,............................................................. REVISED EDITION—1872. I. FRENCH MILITARY EDUCATION IN 1869......... 1. Increase of professionally educated officers..... 2. Admission to the Military Schools and to the Staff, by competition. 4. Internal Economy of each School determined by its own Staff. 5. Military and instructional Staff, distinct but cooperative... 7. Discipline very strict..... Power of dismissal rests with the Minister of War. 8. Age of admission, and general education advanced...... Strictly professional instruction does not begin generally till 20.. 276 9. Military Schools, more and more professional and practical... 276 10. Much time given to drawing, military administration and practical exercises.... 277 11. System of Instruction the same in all the schools....... 277 Active competition the leading feature...... 277 No choice of studies allowed........... 277 12. Education of French officers concluded before regimental duty begins.. |